RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University football team is almost halfway through the spring practice season following a full practice in pads Thursday afternoon. Below are some news and notes involving the Colonels …

--The linebacker unit is loaded with talent and experience. Seniors Anthony Brown and Ichiro Vance both earned All-OVC accolades in 2012. Brown, a first team selection, finished second in the league with 12.5 tackles for loss as a junior. Vance, a two-time all-conference pick, has totaled 142 tackles the last two years. Add to the mix veterans Tyler Horn and Khiry Maddox, and the linebackers may be the strongest unit on the team.

--Two seniors highlight the defensive line – David Carter and Shawn Shupperd. Carter fills the inside of the line as a run stopper while Shupperd plays on the edge. Shupperd led the Colonels with 16 quarterback hurries last year and looked to be in mid-year form during one-on-one lineman drills Thursday.

--There will be plenty of new faces to watch in the defensive backfield as junior safety Brandon Stanley is the lone 2012 starter to return this year. Senior Christian Albertson and junior Chris Owens are expected to compete for playing time at the other safety position. At the corner back spot, sophomores Stanley Absanon and Deno Montgomery saw limited, but valuable playing time one year ago. Also keep an eye on Trey Thomas, Jaucady Rutledge, who is making the switch from wide receiver, and Theron Norman, who lined up as a safety last fall.

--Eastern is set to hold a scrimmage Saturday morning at Roy Kidd Stadium. Practice begins at 8:15 a.m., with warm-ups and a few drill periods before the Colonels line up for some situational football action.

--Next Saturday, April 13 the Colonels will travel to Hazard to hold a scrimmage at Hazard High School. The coaching staff will hold a kids’ clinic from 11:15 a.m., to 12:15 p.m., before the Colonels take the field for a two-hour scrimmage.

--For more timely notes on spring practice, follow EKU football on Twitter via @EKUSports and @EKUFootball.

Click here for the complete spring practice schedule.

Special note: The Worn Cleat Club is set to hold its fourth annual reverse raffle with the last ticket drawn picking up a $10,000 prize. The raffle will be held at Gillum’s Sports Lounge on Friday, April 19 beginning at 7 p.m. For more information on the raffle, please contact Karl Park at karl.park@eku.edu or Kevin Cristello at kevin.cristello@eku.edu.